DEICIDE – Banished By Sin (Album Review)

It’s a mystery to no one what modern Deicide is about: there’s the brutal, blasphemous aspect on one side and the melodic component on the other. The two blend and produce a powerful alloy with, when at its best, an indelible signature to it. It’s a style of songwriting that thrives on momentum and fury, utilizing catchy guitar themes as its main conduit to drive the point. Although there’s a bit of this here, the thought-provokingly named “Banished by Sin” still doesn’t put into practice that ethos that is so central to their efficiency.

Rather than growing on the listener, the thick of the album might progressively feel more like a repetition of past tropes dished out copiously over the course of it with a mighty, meaty production sound to cover it up. Straightforward death metal machining is more or less the order of the day and there’s a bit of a stereotypical energy going on here. Surely, it’s hardly brand new to the ear.

In a semi-ironic fashion, the album itself contains its own antidote: the pre-released “single” “Sever the Tongue” shows the blueprint for how this album could’ve salvaged its inevitable fate of feeling innately common in an era of rare inspiration. The intro, in a bit of that Immolation style, shows off guitar work in a complex chord structuring action, consolidated into a distinctly sinister shape, both firm and sharp. Equally memorable, a serpentine tremolo-picked melody wraps around the listener and spills its poisonous indignation (towards existence, it seems). It comes right after a triplet power chord transition, repeatedly, so as to win the audience’s loyalty cleverly. Everything seems to click here: the drive, the catchy themes, the good pacing from part to part… it all creates anticipation from the consumer. This is unfortunately only an exception here.

“Faithless” is another such track combining those essential elements. Perhaps not as convincingly. A more atmospheric dimension is introduced here with the black metal-ish full minor chord picking on the intro and a more decidedly melodic refrain later. The seventh track, “Ritual Defied”, is another highlight: it packs a mean punch from the get-go with its more chaotic and technical intro reminiscent of older Deicide, as well as on the very riffy verse. The chorus is trem-picking as acrimonious as you like, a feeling of seething antagonism that strikes as quintessential for the band.

Released By: Reigning Phoenix Music
Release Date: April 26th, 2023
Genre: Death Metal

Musicians:

• Steve Asheim / Drums
• Glen Benton / Bass, lead vocals
• Kevin Quirion / Guitars, backing vocals
• Taylor Nordberg / Guitars, backing vocals

“Banished By Sin” Track List:

1. From Unknown Heights You Shall Fall
2. Doomed To Die
3. Sever The Tongue
4. Faithless
5. Bury The Cross… with Your Christ
6. Woke From God
7. Ritual Defied
8. Failures of Your Dying Lord
9. Banished By Sin
10. A Trinity of None
11. I Am I… a Curse of Death
12. The Light Defeated